Man says boyfriend fell from N.C. mountain moments after he took photo

By Adam Lawson alawson@gastongazette.com

Friday

Mar 1, 2019 at 2:06 PMMar 1, 2019 at 2:09 PM

A New York man suffered serious injuries after a 70-foot fall at North Caolina's Crowders Mountain State Park just before 8 a.m. Friday.

The man, Navas Delcid, was on the trail with his boyfriend, Hector Calix, at the time of the fall. Calix said he had just taken Delcid’s photograph when Delcid lost his balance and fell.

“I was taking his picture and he was falling all the way down,” Calix said after arriving back down the mountain.

Calix said he and Delcid, both of Long Island, N.Y., stopped at Crowders Mountain State Park while passing through while returning home from Miami, Calix said.

Calix said he has a sister who lives in Cherryville, N.C., and they were in the area to visit her.

Gastonia Fire Department described a difficult rescue effort to help Delcid. They carried Delcid 100 feet up an area known as the “climbing wall” and then another 400 yards before he could be transported off the mountain. He was taken to CaroMont Regional Medical Center, according to the Gastonia Fire Department.

Gayla Jones and Sherry Canterbury hike the trail every Friday morning. They passed the couple on their way down the mountain. Delcid and Calix were walking up the steps, dancing to Hispanic music, Canterbury said.

Jones and Canterbury were on their way back up the rocky stairs when Delcid started screaming.